About the French Job Market
Ahead of their Fall 2020 start at Parsons Paris, incoming undergraduate and graduate students wrote in to ask questions to Virginie Grillet, Director of Careers and Internships at Parsons Paris. Here are the answers to their most frequent questions about the internships and jobs on the French job market.
How do I enter the job market in France after graduation?
In order to graduate, all Parsons Paris students must validate a Professional Engagement Requirement (PER) that can be satisfied in two ways:
- Complete a 3-6 month internship
- Participate in a Professional “Exit” Workshop
For those interested in gaining valuable professional experience, the PER is a unique opportunity to have a learning experience in France, after completion of their course of study and while maintaining an active student status. Note that an active student status is mandatory to do an internship in France. Specific information sessions will be offered by the Career Services team.
Being an international student, am I eligible to work in France?
Before coming to Paris, verify that you hold a long séjour/CESEDA Visa, which is required to do an internship.
To be allowed to work in France, all non-EU students with a valid CESEDA Visa have the right to work (up to 964 hours per year) while studying in France, under the following conditions:
- They must be enrolled in school
- They must be properly enrolled in French social security (healthcare)
- They must have a resident permit
Do make sure to find the appropriate visa, as there are 24 different visa options. Parsons Paris advisors can help you with this.
What are the procedures before starting an internship in France?
For any internship in France, the student needs to sign a contract with the employer and Parsons Paris. The name is “Convention de Stage” and is provided by the school.
What are my options after my diploma?
- Get an internship that can turn into a full-time position
- Freelance in France or elsewhere
- Apply for a Master program + special APS visa (Autorisation Provisoire de SĂ©jour)
If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
Virginie Grillet
Director of Careers and Internships
parsonscareerservices@newschool.edu